Louisiana deposit law, in plain English.

What your landlord has to do with your deposit after you move out. Each rule links to the official text.

• One month.

  Your landlord has one month after your lease ends to return your deposit.

  R.S. 9:3251(A)

• A statement, if they keep any.

  If they keep part of it, they owe you an itemized statement with reasons, within one month, or up to 15 days after that.

  R.S. 9:3251(A)

• Only unreasonable wear.

  They can keep only what's reasonably needed for your default or unreasonable wear.

  R.S. 9:3251(A)

• Leaving early changes things.

  The deadline doesn't apply if you leave without the required notice or before the lease ends.

  R.S. 9:3251(C)

• $300 or double.

  Willful failure means what they wrongly kept, plus $300 or twice that amount, whichever is more. Not paying within 30 days of a written demand counts as willful.

  R.S. 9:3252(A)

Not covered here yet: Early or no-notice move-outs

Checked against the official text on October 19, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Cities can add their own rules.